...a photoBook is an autonomous art form, comparable with a piece of sculpture, a play or a film. The photographs lose their own photographic character as things 'in themselves' and become parts, translated into printing ink, of a dramatic event called a book...
- Dutch photography critic Ralph Prins

zondag 14 oktober 2012

the Leporello Photobook as a Phenomenon Touch Peter Dekens Photography

Photographer Peter Dekens’s series of photographs Touch is displayed at the StadsGalerij BredaPhoto. It tells the story of the 23 year-old Stijn: a man born blind, living in a small apartment in the city. The furniture inside his apartment aren’t obstacles. On the contrary, they lead his way. Peter Dekens portrayed Stijn inside his apartment and during the winter months. Because Stijn does not need light, the lights were consequently left unlit during the evening hours. This rendered Dekens’ work more difficult. In order to reach an utmost factual result, he did not use artificial lighting. His images are a careful reflection of reality. See for reviews ...

Touch is a beautiful photobook. It is designed in a form of accordion which also helps to tell the story. Powerful work, excellent picture editing, interesting design, gorgeous book, and it smells fantastic!

I’m always wondering why the accordion/laparello format is so rarely used for photobooks. What at first might seem an awkward way to organize photography - one long, folded strip of images - after all has its advantages ...

Spreads and covers of more then 15 booklets with pages that move along a zigzag course are selected for this category. They range from author photographer's booklets to perforated post cards with souvenirs, such as monuments and people on Capri and urban landscapes from Moscow. Professional photographers DÖRTE EISSFELDT, BART SORGEDRAGER and JORGE MOLDER made striking narratives in the zigzag format ...

Sweden, Galerie Borjeson. 1983, First Edition. Accordion Folio, TEXT IN ENGLISH AND SWEDISH. Stunning catalog that unfolds to show 48 brightly colored 48 silkscreen portraits of the actress Ingrid Bergman. The portraits done in typical Warhol style features 3 different portraits of Bergman, 1 from Casablanca, 1 of her as a nun from The Bells Of St. Mary, and a studio portrait from the 40's. All are bright and colorful and are printed on heavy glossy stock that pulls out in accordion fashion. There is also one b&w photo portrait of Warhol on the frontispiece by Christopher Makos along with several Warholian quotes.